Looking for ancestors/descendants of Thomas CANTWELL born about 1772 in Clough, County Kilkenny, Ireland. He married Mary FARRELL in Ireland before 1796 and they had at least two known children. It is now known that Thomas CANTWELL born abt 1772 father's name was also Thomas CANTWELL who was born abt 1750 and that our line descends from Sir Hugh de Cantwille late 11th Century.

Issue: 1.Michael Cantwell and 2.James Cantwell.

It hasn't yet been confirmed when Michael Cantwell was born, but it is known that he was 'transported last ship' and came out to Australia on the ship 'Parmelia'. It is thought that his wife and children did not follow.

James Cantwell (my ancestor) was born 1797 Cloneen, County Kilkenny, Ireland and died 27 March 1857 aged 60 at Narrowgut near Morpeth NSW Australia.

James CANTWELL (standing number 34-1102, indent number 93) was transported to Australia aboard the James Laing, arriving in NSW, Australia on 29 June 1834. He was 30 years old, married and had six children, four male and two female.

James CANTWELL, a Roman Catholic, could read but not write. A native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, he was a coal miner. He was convicted of unlawful oaths at Kilkenny on 14 March 1833 and sentenced to life. He had no previous convictions.

James CANTWELL was six feet tall, with a brown complexion and was a little pockpitted. He had light sandy hair and dark grey eyes. His peculiar marks and scars are described as IS back of right hand, same back of left hand.

In the remarks column of the list of prisoners for the James Laing, it states that James CANTWELLs brother Michael CANTWELL had been transported last ship.

The James Laing departed Dublin, Ireland on 16 Feb 1834 and arrived in Sydney, NSW, Australia on 29 Jun 1834, after a passage of 133 days. The ship embarked 201 male convicts and no women, and disembarked 197 male convicts.

The passage of Michael and Mary BRENNAN to Australia was paid by Mary CANTWELL (nee BRENNAN), whose husband James CANTWELL had been transported to Australia for illegally swearing oaths in 1831. After James CANTWELL was transported, Michael and Mary BRENNAN had cared for Mary CANTWELL and her children.

When James CANTWELL was freed after doing his time, Mary CANTWELL and the children followed him to Australia. Michael and Mary BRENNAN then followed the CANTWELLs, sailing in 1862 aboard the Abbyssinian. Michael BRENNAN died of pneumonia during the voyage, leaving his widow with nine children and another born shortly after the family arrived in Sydney.

The CANTWELLs were unable to support the BRENNAN family and the children were turned into service, leading to a break in relations between the two families.

From: Various family sources (both Cantwell and Brennan)

James CANTWILL (sic), a farmer, died at Narrowgut near Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia on 27 March 1857. He was 60 years of age. The cause of death was inflammation of the lungs after an illness lasting 21 days. Death was certified by William BROWN, who last saw the deceased on 20 March 1857. The informant was Thomas CANTWELL, farmer, of Narrowgut - the son of the deceased.

James CANTWILLs parents were Thomas CANTWILL and Mary CANTWILL, formerly FARRELL. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. The death certificate gives no details of his wife or marriage, but lists his children as Thomas, 34 years; Patrick, 30 years (my ancestor); and Bridget, 28 years.

James CANTWILL was buried on 20 June 1857 at the Roman Catholic Burial Ground, East Maitland, NSW, Australia. The undertaker was William Thomas MITCHELL, while the witnesses were Thomas OGLE and Moses MURPHY.

Gloria in excelsis deo
Erected by Thomas Cantwill in memory of His father
JAMES CANTWILL
A native of the Parish of Clough
County Kilkenny, Ireland
Who departed this life
The 25th March 1857
Aged 60 years
Requiescat in Pace
Amen
Stand here, my friends, wipe of your tears Here we lie till Christ
appears And when he comes we hope to rise Unto a life that never dies.

Comments

There is one listed, born around 1770, married 1795 to "Mrs. John Chaplin"(that is kind of odd) from Durrow, Laoighis, Irland, one son listed: Joseph Cantwell, christened 1808 Durrow, Laoighis, Ireland

Hi I have a line from today going back to James Cantwell. The James Cantwell I have married Mary Drennan (I notice you have Brennan, my tree was done by someone else so I can't veify anything)I have 3 children listed, but not your 3...Mary Cantwell 1863, Richard Cantwell 1856, and Robert Cantwell 1858, my James Cantwell needs to be a bit younger than yours, maybe he is one of the three children you don't have listed? My line has Mary Cantwell marrying Robert Lynch (born 1858)they had 7 children. Margaret May Lynch 1906-1929 married David Cameron Milne, they had 4 children by thetime she was 23years. Margaret died a few weeks after Robert Milne was born in 1929. She was buried in an unmarked grave because she was Catholic and the Milnes weren't. David Cameron Milne remarried and the children Leonard David Mine 1926, Ronald Milne 1925, Lawence Kenneth Milne 1928 and Robert Milne went to live with other relatives as new bride didn't want them. Leonard David Milne married Lesley Isabel Waugh, they had 5 children. Leonard Milne is my husband grandfather so I have a lot more details if you can work out if there is a match here. I hope this helps.
Kylie

This is very long distance reply but hope it helps. The Cantwells in clogh were also small pub owners. Cantwell is an old name from the village and there are very few Cantwells left in the area. Brennan is the tribal name of kilkenny and nearly everyone in the county is related to a Brennan. It might be good to google clogh or castlecomer mines on you tube and you will see a video made by local clogh publican John Coffey who has been archiving images of clogh village and the now closed castlecomer mines over the years. I think there is one image of the old Cantwells pub in clogh in the 1800's on that u tube site. The local priest Father Tobin in St Patricks Church Clogh may help in identifying any baptism records of your ancestors. The mines are now historically remembered in the Castlecomer Demesne or also known as Castlecomer Discovery Park. Sadly like many men who were miners dying from the miners disease is still common today. The coal mines closed in the late 1960's. i am Siobhan Geoghegan and my grandfathers and dad worked in the mines - Bryan O Neill and Paddy Geoghegan. My grandmothers father would have hailed from Tourtane near Clogh - he was Michael Doyle - my gran died last year Jane O Neill aged 96 - she was one of 16 and 2 of her sisters emigrated to Australia in the 50's. I imagine my gran's father would have known many of your relatives in the mid to late 1800's. Hope this helps a little.